Good evening, my dearest readers! As I yesterday promised on Tumblr, I have written the 19th chapter of "Not Every Royal Wears A Crown" for you. And now I am uploading with just a a bit over an hour before the clock strikes midnight...(Don't mind that) This chapter is not quite as long as I had hoped, but hopefully you'll enjoy reading nonetheless…We have finally reached the point where the Carsons have arrived at the palace and are starting their journey as parts of the royal family of England. Let me know what you think with a little review, it's always a highlight of my day to read your thoughts on my writing and they seem to keep me interested with this hobby of mine. Hope you enjoy reading, don't mind the possible typos! Stay safe darlings! ;-)
Monday 6th, a few hours later, London train station
The train came to a slow stop at the crowded station. When looking out of their first-class compartment window, Elsie could hardly see an empty spot with all the reporters and civilians hovering all around. She felt Charles' hand gently squeeze hers in an attempt to ease both their worries.
"Do they know?", was all he said, but she knew exactly what he meant.
"I don't know.", Elsie whispered.
Elsie had written to the king, her brother, in which train they'd be arriving, and she hoped he had received her letter. She wasn't looking forward to a trip to the palace, with a crowd at her heels if they somehow knew the truth.
Their door was opened for them, as they were in first-class, and in that moment every reporter and newspaper owner bolted their way. The air was filled with impending questions;
Are you the lost princess?
Are you the princess of Scotland?
It was all very overwhelming and the urge to cover your face in the middle of the crowd was tempting. No one had warned them that this would happen.
"We don't know what you are talking about. Please let us pass."
She often wondered how he could be so calm and restrained, but supposed it came with his job. Charles pushed aside the people surrounding them and pulled her with him. Elsie looked around, panicked. Everyone was looking their way and it felt so odd, so wrong somehow. Before today they had been hiding behind closed doors and now they were exposed to the world, like it was completely normal.
"The car must be waiting for us already. It'll be fine, love."
"Let's just hurry.", Elsie murmured as they made their way past the people on the platform.
And just like Charles had predicted, they found a car waiting at the front of the station building, with a familiar chauffeur making sure the station boy got their luggage secured at the back of the car. Upon seeing them approach, the man moved to quickly open them a door. And just like that…They were off to the palace, leaving behind the aching crowd.
Their drive to Buckingham Palace didn't take more than ten minutes. With having to avoid a straight route, the chauffeur skillfully took them through the city of London. Not that either of them could really concentrate on the views.
"Here we are your highnesses.", said the chauffeur absentmindedly when the palace came into view.
Charles then turned to face his wife on his left with a whisper:
"Ready?"
"As ready as I'll ever be.", Elsie said with a nod.
The car drove towards the black and golden gates; two guards standing at each side, ready to welcome the new additions to the royal family. They closed the gates behind them right away, in hopes to keep every curious soul away…Elsie gave her husband a gentle squeeze as the car cornered to the main entrance. When glancing out of the windows, they both could see the servants gathering outside. Just like they had done several times over the years when welcoming a guest under the abbey's roof…
All thoughts about the impending were storming through her mind; all her hopes for a good outcome were slowly and surely flashing to the back of her head. Now there was no turning back, no way to escape their faith…It was all coming true and way too fast.
Once I get out of this car, my life will be forever changed.
Meanwhile, Charles was anxiously looking out his window. He was nervous and scared, though he wouldn't admit that to his wife or anyone else for the matter. At first, a life in the middle of society circles didn't sound so frightening at all, but now…Now all he could say was that he was glad to be doing this with his darling Elsie by his side.
With her I could do almost everything, Charles blissfully thought.
And if they were to survive today, they could battle on anything.
"Welcome.", and every servant curtsied or bowed at them."Shall we get inside?"
How calm the queen remained…Elsie almost envied her.
"Thank you.", the Scotswoman replied, glancing around to take in their new surroundings.
One of her most recent worries was standing at her left; the royal servants. They had given them a good lesson at Downton, in the hopes that they wouldn't see again one day. She couldn't make eye contact with anyone and decided that the ground was, in fact, very interesting. She could well feel their cold gazes fixed on her…This will be interesting, Elsie noted…But, despite all that Elsie couldn't help, but be mesmerized by the rising building before them, the gold traced palace. She would be ruling over a house of such a finery on her own; it took less than that to take her breath away. It truly was beautiful.
"Your highness?"
Her eyes landed on Mr. Wilson, the butler. He was staring at her with a look of slight disapproval and Elsie thought for a moment she might feel like she'd done something wrong, had she not felt a sort of pride. In the back of her mind, she was glad of this turn of events…If one knew what she meant, of course…
"This way, your highness.", his voice was bitter, almost making both Charles and Elsie burst out laughing at the man's pathetic behaviour as they walked through the palace's main doors.
Monday 6th, in the evening, Buckingham Palace
Everything had gone surprisingly well so far. They had had tea in one of the main libraries, gone through some necessary arrangements, talked about the need of the new royals' maid and valet (which they both thought was completely unnecessary) and been shown around the main rooms of the first floor; when they finally got to have a moment of peace and quiet, just the two of them. They had somehow wandered around the palace to find the small golden drawing room, facing the beautiful gardens, which was currently completely empty of the many servants or the king and queen themselves.
"We've survived.", Charles broke the silence with a long sigh.
"So far."
"Yes. So far.", he smiled slightly, despite all the thoughts and worries running through his head.
"This very morning, I thought things would come crumbling down."
"And did they? Come crumbling down, I mean?"
"No. I suppose they didn't.", Elsie stated in relief.
Charles stepped a tad bit closer, taking his wife's hands in his. She could feel his shaking under her touch.
"I'm glad.", he whispered quietly, before leaning in to kiss her lips sweetly.
Lingering against her lips, Charles gave her hands a gentle squeeze.
"I suppose we don't want anyone walking in on us doing what we're doing, do we?"
"You're a princess now, you can do whatever you please, Mrs. Carson.", Charles smiled against her lips.
She pulled away from his touch, looking up to his face.
"When you say that it feels so true and right even. I'm truly grateful that you wanted to come with, Charles. Not a great many people would have changed their life the way you were ready to change without a doubt."
"I'll go wherever you go, Elsie. And that promise will not be broken, as long as there is breath in my body.", he said in earnest.
"Thank you for that. I really mean it."
"Now, let's go have some lunch. I think we've both earned it, don't you think?", Charles asked.
"That we have.", Elsie laughed.
Luncheon finished, their duty done, Charles and Elsie were finally shown to their private space; their bedroom, two dressing rooms, a bathroom, and a small sitting room. Just those five rooms were a lot bigger than their cottage had been and it was all quite overwhelming. Their bedroom was in the south wing of the palace, facing the gardens. This side of the building was otherwise quite empty, the king and queen's quarters being in the other end of palace and gave the couple their well reserved privacy. In the middle of the huge bedroom was a wide bed, on top of it more pillows than the whole Abbey had ever owned, Elsie noted. With an already lit fireplace by the wall and two armchairs and a mirror on the other side, the room was warm and comfortable. Their suitcases had been put away and all their belongings taken to their proper places. Their wedding photo on the mantle, his reading glasses on his bedside table and her hairbrush by the dressing table in her dressing room…Everything was where it was supposed to be.
"They're efficient.", Elsie stated as they looked around their new rooms.
"And don't we know it.", her husband murmured under his breath, making her smile brightly.
"What do you think, will they expect us to sleep until ten in the morning? I'm not sure I can."
"Well, at least it's not us who have to make the beds or clean the bathrooms anymore. So, I suppose we are allowed to sleep as long as we please.", Charles said.
"Hmm…I suppose.", she shrugged, sitting down on one of the armchairs by the windows.
"We'll manage."
"And I haven't even had the time to think through this whole servant thing. What will I do with a maid anyway? And I can hardly imagine you being taken care by a valet either…"
"That will certainly take some time getting used to, I agree.", Charles agreed quickly."And what you think about a lady in waiting?"
"Well, I understand that a royal woman would want herself a companion, but me? I have been alone for most of my life and for the rest I've always had you, or Mrs. Patmore."
"I'm sure it will all play out well in the end."
"I'm just a bit sceptical about it all, don't mind me."
"The worst is over now, love. We just have to get through the next weeks and then hopefully get back to a new normal."
"Normal sounds very tempting right now.", Elsie sighed."It'll be dinners, balls and meetings for the rest of our lives, there's no denying it anymore."
They fell into a silence, both lost in thought.
"But I consider myself very lucky nonetheless."
"How so?", Elsie asked.
"I get to dance with the prettiest princess there is."